Description | The file contains information on the 'Fail Safe' plagiarism suit: typed information about the intended suit brought by Peter George, author of 'Red Alert', Polaris Productions, Hawk Films and Columbia International against Burdick-Wheeler's novels 'Fail Safe' [a film of which was released in Oct 1964] such as admittals of story similarity and dates written with the verdict 'Legal opinion is that we are a cinch to win'; and typed 'SAC Bomber Story' by Burdick-Wheeler with some handwritten notes, possibly used in the case. The case was settled out of court. Some of the papers were featured in a documentary on the Collector's Edition DVD [presumably those featured are Columbia's copies].
Also included are copies of scripts to prove similarities and one document entitled The Delicate Balance of Terror which appears to be a draft novel by Peter George on a similar theme to his book Red Alert but is a new storyline which relates to a false alarm which causes the Americans to launch bombers for a nuclear attack. The story is more character driven than Red Alert.
As well as legal papers there is Kubrick's press statement about the case, 12 Feb 1963.
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